​Ex-first minister's pension to be donated to trust to help young people in north east

Former first minister Alex Salmond is to donate his £42,501 a year pension to a charitable trust.

The Mary Salmond Trust, named in honour of his late mother, helps young people in the north-east of Scotland where Salmond has his constituency.

He said: "I have already made it clear that I am not retiring from politics and therefore this is the right thing to do.

“The Mary Salmond Trust has done a great job supporting young people, community and charitable causes across the north-east and I am delighted that this work can now continue into the future."

Trustee Roddy McColl said: "This is tremendous news and will enable the trust to continue its work supporting good causes and charities across the north-east.

"The trustees are delighted with the standard of application we have received and a great deal of exceptionally good work is being assisted by the grants we have been able to make."